I like Briley King. Unfortunately, I do not like the recorded version of her cover of ‘The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,’ which is set to release on the first of October.
It sounds nothing like the audio that went viral on TikTok.
My opinion of the song has soured. Even though King will be joined by one of the most popular women in country music right now, I still will not be listening.
Who is Briley King?
Briley Hussey married Marcus King in February 2023. She met her now-husband while he was on tour in 2021. Their love immediately blossomed over music. They were engaged just seven months later.
Not only does Marcus credit his wife with pulling him out of a low point in his life, they often collaborate on stage and in the booth. She sang background vocals on his most recent albums and she often joins him on the road. He typically invites her on stage. Their singing voices sound great together!
Briley King can really sing!
That leads us to her upcoming single.
‘The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia’ is one of the greatest country music songs of all-time.
The original Southern Gothic murder ballad was written in 1972 by songwriter Bobby Russell. It was first recorded by his then-wife, Vicki Lawrence.
Her version of ‘The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia’ went to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1973.
Reba McEntire later covered the song for her 1991 album For My Broken Heart. It peaked at No. 12 on the country music charts.
Briley King is the latest artist to release her own cover of the Lawrence-turned-McEntire hit. Her version of the song will drop on Oct. 1.
Ella Langley on the track?
This whole thing started back in August when Marcus King invited his wife on stage at the Family Reunion in Charleston. Briley ran through a cover of ‘The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia’ in the dressing room prior to the event. She posted a video to social media.
The audio of her rehearsal went extremely viral on TikTok. Even Ella Langley got in on the fun.
People, myself included, called for a full release of King’s version. I even went so far as to say she out-sung Reba. I stand by what I said at the time!
And then Briley King sang it on stage with Marcus at the (second) most famous stage in country music.
She wore a custom Hermes lampshade for the live show. They blew the roof off of the Opry.
Briley also followed up the performance with an announcement. She is going to release a studio version with Langley!
I was thrilled to hear the news. But while that might sound like a good thing, the recorded track sounds nothing like the cover that went viral from the green room.
I know Briley King does not care what I think. Plus, anything with Langley turns to gold. People are going to love this modern version of ‘The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.’ That’s great!
I don’t.
The green room cover was smooth, sultry and just a little bit mysterious. The recorded version is not. I am sorely disappointed by the approach to this release.